Milton, Vermont

Milton, Vermont
Town
Location in Chittenden County and the state of Vermont.
Milton, Vermont Location in the United States
Coordinates: 44°37′53″N73°8′13″W / 44.63139°N 73.13694°W / 44.63139; -73.13694
Country	United States
State	Vermont
County	Chittenden
Communities	Milton West Milton Checkerberry Village Cozy Corner West View
Area
• Total	60.9 sq mi (157.7 km2)
• Land	51.5 sq mi (133.3 km2)
• Water	9.4 sq mi (24.4 km2)
Elevation	121 ft (37 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,723
• Density	180/sq mi (68/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	05468
Area code	802
FIPS code	50-45250 [1]
GNIS feature ID	1462149 [2]
Website	www.miltonvt.org

Milton is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,723. ^[3] According to local legend, the town was named for the English poet John Milton, but the name most likely originated from William FitzWilliam, 4th Earl FitzWilliam, who held the title Viscount Milton and was a supporter of independence for the colonies during the American Revolution. ^[4]

Milton has a municipal building, school system, library, police force, fire department, rescue squad, several churches, as well as civic and social organizations. ^[5] The Town website can be found here: https://www.miltonvt.gov/

History

Milton was chartered by Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire on June 8, 1763. In February 1782, the town was first settled by William Irish, Leonard Owen, Amos Mansfield, Absalom Taylor, and Thomas Dewey. There were approximately 300 settlers living in Milton by 1795. It was necessary to build a new meeting place, as meeting in private homes would no longer suffice. The Town House was built in 1849. In 1878, it was destroyed by a fire. Early settlers in Milton made most of their income from lumber and potash until 1840, when dairy became popular and butter and cheese were sold. Eventually, milk was also shipped to Boston and New York. ^[5] Milton was home of the Catamount Speedway, which operated until 1988. Many racers who have gone through there went on to NASCAR fame, including Shelburne native Kevin Lepage. ^[6]

Geography

Milton is located in northern Chittenden County, bordered by Franklin County to the north and Grand Isle County to the northwest, across an arm of Lake Champlain. The town includes the community of Milton in the east, as well as the communities of Cozy Corner, West View, Checkerberry Village, Milton Falls, Milton Village, and West Milton from east to west across the center of the town. The Lamoille River flows from northeast to southwest across the town, entering Lake Champlain at the town's southwestern corner. U.S. Route 2 crosses the eastern arm of Lake Champlain to Grand Isle from Sand Point, just north of the Lamoille River delta. Sand Bar State Park is located along Route 2.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Milton has a total area of 60.9 square miles (157.7 km²), of which 51.4 square miles (133.1 km²) is land and 9.5 square miles (24.6 km²), or 15.62%, is water. ^[3]

Farming

Milton has been home to many farms over the years, most of which were dairy farms. Today only three dairy farms are still in operation in Milton as of February 2024 these are; The Rowley Farm, Richards Farm, and The Hayes Farm. Out of the three previously mentioned farms, The Hayes Farm (officially Hayes Boys Dairy) is the youngest Dairy farm, the Hayes Farm was bought by John Hayes in 2023 although he had been renting it since 2016. Dairy operation on the farm ran from Unknown-2021, 2021- current. A ranch near all the residents of Milton know of is The Robinson Ranch. The Robinson Ranch is owned and operated by Edward "Ed" Robinson (commonly referred to as "Old Man Robinson") The Robinson Ranch sells Hay and raises a small number of beef cows, it used to be a dairy farm. The Robinson Ranch is known due to the quarry that was on the Ranch until Ed Robinson sold the Quarry sometime between 2012 and 2023.

Communities

Milton is home to many communities many of which exist due to the travel limitations before the automobile, as such many now only house people and have no churchs, stores, or schools. A list of the Communities of the Town of Milton:

• Milton Falls (based around the Route 7 Main Street intersection)
• Milton Village (based around the Milton schools and Milton Square)
• Cozy Corners (based around the Middle Road Railroad Street intersection)
• West View (located between Checkerberry Village and Cozy Corners)
• Checkerberry Village (based around Checkerberry Square which now longer exists)
• West Milton (everything west of the La Moille/Lamoille river plus some land mainly on the riverbank of the east side of the La Moille/Lamoille river)
• Miltonboro Village (based around the Miltonboro Church [Miltonboro church no longer exists] and Cemetery)
• Miltonboro (North West Corner of the Town of Milton)
• Sopertown (based around the Everst Rd, Beebe Hill Rd intersection)

Milton Falls was where historically many businesses operated, although now most businesses operate in Milton Village, many of the larger commercial businesses are located in Milton Square. Miltonboro Village is a small community completely surrounded by Miltonboro, it is where many went who lived in West Milton and Miltonboro went to mail letters, go to church, get on the stagecoach or meet people getting off it. Miltonboro Village is not very relevant today as it is just made up of three houses and a cemetery, but at one point in time there was a stagecoach station, a post office, a church, a cemetery, some houses and farms, and possibly a general store many of which were located on a road that came off of Beebe Hill road and housed most of the aforementioned buildings, although said road is now gone and information/photos of Miltonboro is hard to find because during it's time as a strong community it was very rural and not many photographs were taken.

Demographics

See also: Milton (CDP), Vermont

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	282		—
1800	786		178.7%
1810	1,548		96.9%
1820	1,746		12.8%
1830	2,100		20.3%
1840	2,136		1.7%
1850	2,451		14.7%
1860	1,963		−19.9%
1870	2,062		5.0%
1880	2,006		−2.7%
1890	1,585		−21.0%
1900	1,804		13.8%
1910	1,648		−8.6%
1920	1,523		−7.6%
1930	1,663		9.2%
1940	1,750		5.2%
1950	1,874		7.1%
1960	2,022		7.9%
1970	4,495		122.3%
1980	6,829		51.9%
1990	8,404		23.1%
2000	9,479		12.8%
2010	10,352		9.2%
2020	10,723		3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]

As of the census ^[1] of 2000, there were 9,479 people, 3,333 households, and 2,609 families residing in the town. The population density was 184.2 people per square mile (71.1/km²). There were 3,505 housing units at an average density of 68.1 per square mile (26.3/km²). There were 3,333 households. Of these, 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. Of all households, 15.3% were made up of individuals, and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 35.8% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,379, and the median income for a family was $50,972. Males had a median income of $36,149 versus $27,256 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,048. About 4.2% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Public safety

In 2008, property crimes increased by 54.9%. The number of incidents for all crime was 706. ^[8]

The town of Milton maintains a Volunteer Fire Department, a Volunteer Rescue squad, and a full time Police Department serving the town 24/7. The fire department was established in 1937, originally operating out of a small station on Main St. In 2003, they were moved to a large new station on Bombardier Rd next to the Town Offices and Rescue Squad. ^[9] The Milton Rescue Service was established in 1966 by members of the Fire Department for providing transport to the hospital. Today they operate two ambulances for in town and mutual aid calls to neighboring towns and are licensed up to the Paramedic level. They are located on Bombardier Rd next to the Fire Department. ^[10] The Milton Police Department was established in 1968 and provides Twenty four hour 911 assistance and policing to the Town of Milton. Included in their operations is a K-9 units, School Resource officers, and 17 full-time Officers. ^[11]

Transportation

The Chittenden County Transportation Authority provides weekday commuter bus service. Stops include the Milton Town Office Park & Ride and the Chimney Corner Park & Ride. ^[12]

Major highways

• Interstate 89
• U.S. Route 2
• U.S. Route 7

Education

Milton Elementary School (MES):

• In May 2012, the Odyssey of the Mind team participated in the World Finals. ^[13]
• In March 2013, a group of students and teachers from the elementary school were invited to the White House to join First Lady Michelle Obama in planting the kitchen garden in early April. ^[14] This was, in part, related to the initiatives the school food service director Steve Marinelli implemented that support Let's Move! , as well as his blog. ^{[15] [16]}

Milton Middle School (MMS):

• The Odyssey of the Mind team participated in the World Finals in 2010 ^[17] and 2015. ^[18]

Milton High School (MHS):

• The Theatre Company produces a musical in the fall and a one-act play in the spring. The one-act is presented at the regional level. Milton's has been chosen to advance to the state level multiple times where it then competes to be selected as one of two schools to represent Vermont at the New England Drama Festival showcase. Milton has done so in 2002 (The Drowned and the Saved), ^[19] 2004 (Women and Wallace), ^{[20] [21]} 2011 (MacBeth), ^[22] 2012 (A Midsummer Night's Dream), ^[23] 2014 (Oedipus Rex), ^{[24] [25]} and 2015 (Beowulf). ^[26]
• Milton hosted the New England Drama Festival in 2003. ^{[27] [28]}
• In 2016, Milton seniors won first (Meredith Holbrook) and third (Ryan Racicot) place in U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders' annual State of the Union essay contest. Two other Milton seniors (Megan Bromley and Sara Manfredi) were top twenty finalists. Essays of the winners and finalists will be entered into the Congressional Record. ^[29]
• Since the beginning of the school year of 2014, Milton High School has participated in the production and creation of a series of videos on YouTube that are structured in the format of a television show or news channel named Yellow Jacket Television, named after the district mascot. In this program, students film, edit, and produce their own segments collaboratively in an effort to present a "TV show" to be presented in front of the student body on a monthly basis. Some segments are based around sports, music, news, events, and other various topics and interests.

Businesses

The town is home to the warehouse for Gardener's Supply ^[30] and a manufacturing facility for Husky Injection Molding Systems. ^{[31] [32]}

Auto racing oval Catamount Stadium was located in Milton and many drivers, including Kevin Lepage, raced here during their racing careers. ^[33]

Milton is home to Torre Rifle Company LLC a firearms and ammunition manufacturing and repair shop. Torre Rifle Company also sells guns and Ammo.

In popular culture

Milton was a filming location for some of the scenes in the Farrelly brothers movie Me, Myself & Irene , which starred Jim Carrey and Renée Zellweger. ^[34]

On May 25, 2016, American singer-songwriter Daya performed an exclusive concert at Milton High School; fellow Artbeatz recording artist Symon performed in the concert as well. ^[35]

Notable people

• George Allen, born in Milton, noted clergyman and academic
• Heman Allen, U.S. Congressman ^[36]
• David R. Bean, Wisconsin legislator; was born in Milton
• Edwin E. Bryant, Wisconsin legislator; was born in Milton ^[37]
• Jean-Paul Cyr, stock car racer ^[38]
• Luther S. Dixon, Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
• John G. Haskell, born in Milton, architect who designed Kansas public buildings including the Kansas State Capitol
• Michael Hastings, journalist and author ^[39]
• George LeClair, Major League Baseball pitcher ^[40]
• John Palasik, Vermont state legislator
• Apollos Smith, born in Milton, wilderness guide, founder of wilderness resort, eponym of Paul Smiths, New York
• Noah Smith, one of the founders of Vermont and a justice of the Vermont Supreme Court ^[41]
• Donald H. Turner, Minority Leader of the Vermont House of Representatives ^[42]
• Alson Wood, born in Milton, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
• Amaziah Church, founder of Churchville, Peel Regional Municipality, Ontario, was noted in the 1790 census as living in Milton

References

1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Milton town, Chittenden County, Vermont". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved August 19, 2015.^{[ dead link ]}
4. Duffy, John J.; Hand, Samuel B.; Orth, Ralph H. (March 26, 2018). The Vermont Encyclopedia. UPNE. p. 206. ISBN   9781584650867 – via Google Books.
5. Archived December 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
6. St. Louis, Justin (June 12, 2014). "VT Speed: Spring Green full of history". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
8. Sutkowsi, Matt (June 12, 2009). "Property crimes increase in county". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. pp. 1B.
9. "Fire | Milton, VT".
10. "Rescue | Milton, VT".
11. "Welcome to the Milton Police Department | Milton, VT".
12. "CCTA: Bus Route and Schedule Information". Archived from the original on August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2012. CCTA Bus Route and Schedule Information
13. "World Finals 2012 May 23rd" . Retrieved February 4, 2016.
14. Curtis, Colleen (April 4, 2013). "Students Join First Lady Michelle Obama to Plant the White House Kitchen Garden". whitehouse.gov . Retrieved January 28, 2016– via National Archives.
15. Curtiss, Paul (May 17, 2014). "Steve Marinelli Changing Kids, One Fry at a Time". vermontpsychology.org. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
16. Lamdin, Courtney (March 28, 2013). "Farm to school to White House". Milton Independent. Milton, VT.
17. "World Finals 2010 May 26th" . Retrieved February 4, 2016.
18. "World Finals 2015 May 20th" . Retrieved February 4, 2016.
19. "Reflections: New England Drama Festival 2002" (PDF). Retrieved February 8, 2016.
20. Mack, Sharon Kiley (April 26, 2004). "Fairfield hosts drama festival; New England event draws hundreds". Bangor Daily News. Bangor, ME. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
21. "New England Drama Festival Magic 2004 The Theatrical Journey" (PDF). Retrieved February 8, 2016.
22. "New England High School Theater Festival: Andover High School readies for this weekend's event" . Retrieved February 8, 2016.
23. "New England Drama Festival 2012" (PDF). Retrieved February 4, 2016.
24. Kelley, Julie (Reporter) (April 14, 2014). Milton drama class sets the bar with "Oedipus Rex". WCAX Television. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
25. Lamdin, Courtney (April 10, 2014). "'Oedipus' elevates drama troupe". Milton Independent. Milton, VT. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
26. Lamdin, Courtney (April 8, 2015). "'Beowulf' Bests One-Acts". Milton Independent. Milton, VT. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
27. "New England Drama Festival Host Sites" . Retrieved February 4, 2016.
28. "New England Drama Festival 2003" (PDF). Retrieved February 4, 2016.
29. "MHS wows State of the Union judges". Milton Independent. Milton, VT. January 27, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
30. Lamdin, Courtney (September 20, 2012). "Gardener's Supply now shipping from Milton". Milton Independent. Milton, VT. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
31. "Husky Injection Molding Systems" . Retrieved February 1, 2016.
32. Lamdin, Courtney (May 7, 2014). "Husky's energy efficiency praised". Milton Independent. Milton, VT. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
33. Haley, Tom (July 1, 2005). "Looking back at Milton's Catamount Stadium". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
34. Duffy, John J.; Hand, Samuel B.; Orth, Ralph H. (2003). The Vermont Encyclopedia. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England. p. 125. ISBN   978-1-58465-086-7 – via Google Books.
35. Sheahen, Jennifer (May 26, 2016). "Billboard singer/songwriter Daya holds exclusive concert for Milton High School". wptz.com. WPTZ . Retrieved May 26, 2016.
36. Taylor, Henry W. (1918). "Vermonters in Congress". Proceedings of the Vermont Historical Society for 1916-17. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Historical Society. p. 81 – via Google Books.
37. 'Proceedings of the State Bar Association of Wisconsin 1907,' Wisconsin Bar Association: 1907, Biographical Sketch of Edwin Eustace Bryant, pg. 260-264
38. "Cyr Captures Spring Green". Press-Republican . Plattsburgh, NY. May 18, 2008.
39. Carpenter, Kasey (March 7, 2012). "You Don't Know Michael Hastings". Lit Reactor. Valley Village, CA.
40. Ballard, James (August 14, 2015). "Early days of Milton medical care". Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT.
41. Taft, Russell S. (January 1, 1894). "The Supreme Court of Vermont, Part II". The Green Bag . Boston, MA: Boston Book Company.
42. Johnson, Mark (October 22, 2018). "Don Turner: Mr. Milton moves to the middle". VT Digger. Montpelkier, VT.

External links

• Milton, Vermont Official Town Website
• The Vermont Encyclopedia, page 206.